Majority Independent Candidates backed by PTI still await official notifications by ECP
ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: Independent candidates backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) are still in limbo as they await official notification of their electoral success. Despite more than a week passing since the general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan has yet to issue notifications for the majority of independent candidates who secured seats in the National Assembly.
Out of over 10 victorious independent candidates, only 8 have received official notifications by Saturday evening. Late into the night, the Election Commission announced the success of an additional 33 candidates.
According to reports, notifications have been issued for 154 out of 265 National Assembly seats, with only 41 independent candidates among them. It takes three days for an independent candidate to join a political party after their victory.
Raja Khurram Nawaz, triumphant from NA-48 Islamabad, was the first independent candidate to receive notification on February 12, after joining the Pakistan Muslim League two days prior.
Further successes were declared on subsequent days, including former Punjab Governor Mian Muhammad Azhar from NA-129 Lahore and Ghulam Muhammad from NA-93 Chiniot on February 13. On February 15, PTI-backed independent candidate Adil Khan of NA-262 Quetta and independent candidate Aqeel Malik of NA-54 Rawalpindi were notified. Additionally, Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry from NA-62 Gujarat, Osama Malik from NA-83 Sargodha, and Nisar Ahmad Jat from NA-100 Faisalabad were declared successful on February 16.
Among the late-night notifications, 33 constituencies saw independent candidates declared successful, including NA 1, NA 2, NA 3, NA 4, NA 5, NA 6, NA 7, NA 9, NA 10, NA 12, NA 13, NA 14, NA 16, NA 17, NA 18, NA 19, NA 20, NA 21, NA 22, NA 23, NA 24, NA 25, NA 26, NA 26, NA 30, NA 31, NA 32, NA 33, NA 34, NA 35, NA 36, NA 37, NA 39, NA 41, NA 42, and NA 45. Additionally, one seat each was won by candidates from Majlis-e-Wahdat Muslimeen, PPP, and Muslim League-N.
The delay in notifications has raised concerns over electoral transparency and the timely processing of electoral outcomes.
